We don’t get to see many fall colors in West Texas, where I live. So when my hubby and I traveled to Missouri at the start of this month, we soaked in as many fall colors as we could. The highways showed off their deep red vegetation and patchwork trees. So beautiful!
One of the last places we visited before heading into St. Louis for the Redezvous event was Top of the Rock, just south of Branson. We took a guided nature hike and drank in the wonder of God’s creation.
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Amid this glorious tapestry of nature, there were also beautiful structures. Local Amish built the two tressle bridges on the property with no power tools, just intricate pulleys and expert craftsmanship. At the top of the overlook is a gorgeous chapel. We weren’t able to go inside because it doesn’t open until 4:00 in the afternoon, but pictures I saw showed that the enitre front wall is made of glass to look out over God’s glory in the valley below.
This was one of the highlights of the trip for me.
Another was making time for a stop back in downtown Springfield at Gilmore’s Tea House. We had tried to eat there the day before, but they had been closed. So I twisted my hubby’s arm to try again as we were leaving town, and it was open. We enjoyed delicious tea, a fantastic lunch, and even splurged on some of their decadent cake for dessert (half of which we took with us for later).
The place was half tea room and half Victorian shop. There was a heavy Alice in Wonderland theme happening, which was delightful as well. Literary vibes in a tea house? Yes, please. Wes tried a cucumber/honeydew tea and I stuck with a more standard blend of black and green teas with conflower petals named after Buckingham Palace. Such a treat!
Speaking of treats, I have a little something for you, too. 🙂
Attending the Read, Write, Rendezvous in St. Louis afforded me lots of time to chat with readers, other writers, and to bring home lots of great bookish swag. I’d like to share some of that with you.
Giveaway
Leave a comment on today’s post to be entered to win the books & goodies pictured below. Chat about fall colors, waterfalls, chapels, or even your favorite tea. 🙂
I will announce the winner in the comments tomorrow.
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Since my husband became disabled (well, differently abled), we haven’t travelled so I do enjoy vicarious vacations and yours looked beautiful! One of Don’s challenges is that he has lost his eyesight; I do my best to describe things as we go through life, but I wonder if I would do justice to the foliage and that chapel! Thank you for taking us along for the journey.
What a challenge, Colleen. I love that you take the time to describe things to him. Such an act of love and inclusion. Happy to share our vacation with you!
We have never been to Top of the Rock before, but after seeing your photos and description, I’ve put in on my list of places to go. Our fall has been rather on the bland side. Due to extreme drought conditions, everything seemed to go from green (what was left of it) to brown. Due to so many medical appointments and procedures right at prime foliage time, we weren’t able to travel to see any either. When we do get rain, there are several waterfalls in our area that are quite pretty. We often go there to photograph them. While not a hot tea person, I do enjoy a cold glass of citrus green tea.
Thank you for the fabulous chance to win an amazing giveaway!
We’ve been dry here in Texas, too, Kay. Finally getting some rain today. I hope you get the chance to visit Top of the Rock. It really is lovely.
I am a native Houstonian who had the privilege of living in Kerrville Texas for 12 years. The changing of the colors of the leaves 🍁🍂 usually take place in late November or early December to which are beautiful. I recommend going to the Coming King 👑 foundation in Kerrville. Amongst the maple 🍁 trees which change colors are beautiful and amazing bronze statues which depict the life of Jesus. You might want to look up the Coming King foundation. We have also been to Lost Maples State Park which can be gorgeous. We now live in central Texas where there is only a little 🍂🍁 fall. PTL for His creation! A blessed Thanksgiving to all!
Coming King Foundation sounds amazing, Elsie! Thanks for the recommendation!
Your trip sounds wonderful! A friend of mine and I like to meet in Chappell Hill, TX, at Bever’s Kitchen for lunch. It has a country atmosphere and delicious food. They are known for their variety of fantastic pies, so we save room for a slice of pie a la mode on each visit there. The approach is lovely too–farm and ranch land with grazing cattle.
That sounds marvelous, Suzanne! I love pie. 🙂
Wonderful pictures! Thanks for sharing. I love visiting tea rooms and went to two new ones the last time I visited my daughter in California.
Here in Virginia we get all four seasons, even on the coast where I live in Virginia Beach. Leaves have turned and are rapidly falling. I still have a few of my rose bushes with late blooms since our temperatures are up and down at this time of year. Happy Thanksgiving!
That sounds beautiful, Betty! Seeing the fall colors in the east is a bucket list for me.
Autumn is my absolute favorite time of year! I live in the rolling hills of Wisconsin, which provide so much color! Every year I feel like a child again, collecting brightly colored leaves to press and scatter around to decorate ☺️🍁. It’s fun to see pictures of other people’s travels, since we aren’t able to do much traveling ourselves. So thank you for your beautiful pictures 🍁🤩!
There is nothing so youthful as kicking through a ile of leaves or picking up a collection of the prettiest specimens. I love that you still do that, Kirsti!
This was such an enjoyable read with my coffee this morning as it’s filled with everything I love: autumn, exploring, and teahouses!
It was a practically perfect day. 🙂 I’m glad I was able to share it with you over coffee, Kathy.
I would love to win the giveaway goodies! Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving to you as well, Luann!
We live in Michigan and of course we get a lot of fall color, but we had a very special time to enjoy all of it this year as we traveled to Minn. through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in mid September and then back home again in mid October. What a difference a month makes. Often many of the UP’s areas have evergreens and in amongst these would be colorful red and yellow trees. The greens set off the the colors just right. As we traveled south in October into the upper part of lower Michigan there was more brilliant colors and not so much evergreen. It was such a joy to see God’s creation in the fall.
That sounds so lovely, Judie. What a lovely drive!
I enjoyed reading your article and seeing the pictures. I am a tea person also and love going to tea rooms. My favorite tea is Buckingham Palace Garden Tea.
Never too old for a tea party! 🙂
I love fall. I live in Minnesota and the colors change every day. The leaves are mostly off the trees now but it is a beautiful season.
How wonderful to be surrounded by such glory every autumn!
What beautiful colors! And those waterfalls! And a tea shop! All of my favorites.
I know, right? It was a wonderful day. 🙂
Beautiful pictures! We love Missouri and have been there during the fall.
Thanks, Terry. Missouri is fast becoming a favorite place to visit. 🙂
We’re seeing our share of autumn colors here in the DC area! Some of our neighbors have inflatable Thanksgiving turkeys in their front yards.
One of my memorable favorite afternoon teas with champagne was at the historic Waldorf Astoria Caledonia Hotel in Edinburgh, UK. The hotel was built during the heyday of rail travel.
As for tea, why is Lady Grey is less known than Earl Grey?
Ooo – a fancy tea. Very nice. Lady Grey is definitely just as deserving. 🙂 I’m actually not overly fond of the Earl, myself. Ha!
Hi Karen, I loved seeing your Missouri Fall pictures! We have some Fall colors here in the SF Bay Area of California but not a lot. I have to enjoy other peoples pictures. 😊 My most memorable tea experience was about 15 years ago at The Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC. The setting, the food, the tea – it was a once in a lifetime experience! Thank you for throwing my name in the hat for the giveaway!
I love Victoria, BC! My daughter and I went there several years ago when she was doing an internship in Bellingham, WA. We didn’t do the fancy tea at the Empress Hotel, but we did find a little out-of-the-way tea shop where we feasted on tea and scones. It was marvelous!
I don’t get to see fall colors in FL! Our trees don’t change colors, though my Oak tree will drop tons of leaves, usually in March. My plumeria’s have already started dropping their leaves, they’ll lose all of them until next year. I LOVE Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea!! However, I add so much sugar to it to be able to drink it that I’ve stopped drinking tea.
My husband has a drnk he calls spice tea that is practically all sugar – it mixes instant tea, Tang, and sugar. There are probably some spices added as well, but I get a headache just thinking about it. Ha! I do like adding honey to my hot tea, though. I drink unsweetened ice tea, but for some reason, I need to sweeten my hot tea.
WINNER – Congratulations to Elsie Kappler. WooHoo! I just sent you an email, Elsie, with instructions for claiming your prize.